About

Growing up in Baltimore shaped Nicholas Bloom's future as an urban historian.
"Baltimore was a dynamic place to grow up because it was falling apart," Bloom says. "For everything you need to understand about the city, and why it is so fascinating, just watch the HBO TV series, The Wire."
Bloom is an associate professor and serves as chairperson of NYIT's urban administration and interdisciplinary studies programs. He is also currently serving as co-editor of the peer-reviewedJournal of Planning History published by Sage.
He is the author or editor of eight books about urban development, including American Tourism: Constructing a National Tradition, a collection of critical essays by leading historians about iconic U.S. tourist destinations. Bloom, who lived in Boston as a doctoral student, contributed an essay on one of the most famous places in the city—Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
In addition, he has three new books in 2015:
• Affordable Housing in New York
• Public Housing Myths
• The Metropolitan Airport
As chair of interdisciplinary studies, Bloom has seen firsthand how students benefit from diverse coursework in preparation for careers in the global workforce. He also served on a faculty team that revised NYIT's core curriculum to create more choices for students to explore underserved academic subjects, including gothic literature, gender identity, and environmental history and economics.
"I have seen enormous progress at NYIT over the years since I've arrived," he says. "Our physical space, faculty, the core, and student support services have all definitely improved over time. I'm excited about these changes."
As director of NYIT's core curriculum, Bloom ensures that courses introduce critical thinking and research skills and emphasize interdisciplinary applications. He hires energetic faculty members to teach these classes and provides assessment and review for the two courses taken by all students: Foundations of Inquiry and Foundations of Scientific Process.
"Both courses push students to look beyond their technical knowledge," Bloom says. "The people who are successful today have a broader view outside of their fields and can work with teams across disciplines."
IN THE MEDIA
Bloom is a sought-after urban affairs expert who has contributed his expertise to several media outlets, including:
• New York Daily News
• NPR/Marketplace
• The New York Times
• Gotham Gazette
• Four-part news segment, "Housing Generations," aired on New York Public Radio